Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals were originally established in 1898 as the Morgan Athletic Club, later changing their name to the Racine Cardinals which was subsequently switched to the Chicago Cardinals in 1922 after the franchise had joined the American Professional Football League. The cardinal name came from the color of a package of jerseys from the University of Chicago.

The Cardinals won two NFL championships, in 1925 and 1947, but saw the majority of their seasons in Chicago end in disappointment.

St. Louis Cardinals

In 1960, the franchise relocated to St. Louis, a city that already had a Major League Baseball called the Cardinals. Hall of Fame playout of lineman Dan Dierdorf and tight end Jackie Smith carried St. Louis to multiple playoff births but they were unsuccessful in the postseason.

The team was moved to Phoenix in 1988 with owners citing lack of stadium revenue coupled with fan support being the main problem.

Arizona Cardinals

It was not until 1998 that the Cardinals won another playoff game behind quarterback Jake Plummer, ending a 51 year drought.

Their only Super Bowl appearance came in 2009 with offensive weapons Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, and Larry Fitgerald, ultimately coming up short against the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-23.

The Cardinals came close in 2015, making it to the NFC championship game before losing to the Carolina Panthers.

Fitzgerald has been Arizona's best all-time player, second to only Jerry Rice in all time receiving yards and third in receptions even though the team around him has rarely been adequate.